After one session I’m hooked. Very friendly team atmosphere. Topher seems to know his stuff, and everyone I drilled with was helpful in teaching and explaining technique. I never knew having my spine twisted like a pretzel could be so much fun. In my opinion, this is a perfect environment for someone brand new to BJJ to thrive.

I have wanted to learn Jiu Jitsu for a long time. A very long time. So in March I started researching gyms. I have zero experience in any form of fighting system. I sent out a very specific email, addressing the fact that I am 67 and 460+ pounds and 48 years old. None of them took the time and addressed the concerns I had. Should I try this and if so, how are we going to make sure I dont hurt someone or more importantly, myself!I was becoming discouraged. And then I noticed in my Google search a new gym that opened in Bloomington in March. So, I sent my email. Topher Braddock (let me help you out right now, its not Toe Fer, its Topper. Ask him for the story its really interesting) emailed me back the next day. He took the time to address what I said and asked that I come in on a Sunday when they were doing some open rolling and to watch and then try a couple of things. We talked it over and he took the time to talk with the other coaches about what they would be working with and they all agreed they could help.April 9th 2018 I started my first class. 7pm at night. I didn’t know what to expect and how I was going to be perceived. There isn’t one person student or coach, who isn’t willing to help and work with you. Ask questions! It’s incumbent on you as the student to ask if you don’t understand something or if you need more instruction. Not once have I been turned away for saying “I don’t get it.” Every coach is willing to work with you during open mat time to help understand things better.Moving onto instructors/coaches.Head Coach Fabio Morescalchi (black belt). Very knowledgeable, very friendly and loves cats, anime and Jiu Jitsu (not necessarily in that order). Fabio finds different ways for me to do things due to my size. And pushes me to do the actual technique when I can. As with any gym, the goal is so that no one gets hurt. Go at your own pace, but make sure you’re pushing yourself.Joe Swore (brown belt). Joe is really my speed. He’s very upfront, very direct. Shows you how to do it and wants you to go and do it after. Guess what? I fail a lot of the times afterwards. This is where the class size comes in. You have a big class you have to move fast. However, if you stop and ask Joe a question he will work with you until you either understand it or he’ll grab one of the other coaches to help you understand. He’s a big believer of “slow is smooth and smooth is fast”.Andrew Bendzick (brown belt). Andrew is very quiet and always watching you. You might think he doesn’t have the time of day for you or he’s arrogant/cocky. Having a chance to work with him at an event another gym put on, I was completely wrong. Andrew took the time to make sure I understood what I was doing how to correct the things I did wrong and let me get a majority of the reps in.Topher Braddock (brown belt). Topher started it all for me. Talked to me, got to understand me. Listened to me when I said “I quit things a lot” and makes sure I don’t quit on myself. Arguably the hardest working coach at Akagi (and that is a bold statement as all of the coaches work super hard). Topher works a lot of the open mat times and works with the students who are looking to compete and helping them with their training. With everything I said already, it’s not hard to see why Topher is awesome.Should you sign up for Akagi? I can’t make that decision for you. You are the only one who can answer that. But let me offer the following tips and suggestions.- You get a free week. USE IT! Go to as many of the classes as you can.- Need more time? Buy a drop in pass (10 classes) or pay for a couple extra- Don’t sign up at a gym that pressures you to sign a contract right away, make sure you’re comfortable.- BE OPEN- Ask questions- Drinking from a firehose is hard, it’s OK, we all started somewhere.Where ever you end up, I wish you the best. It’s going to be hard and there are going to be days you don’t want to go. Fight through it. You won’t regret it.

4 month old white belt in Minneapolis on business and went to open mat. Very welcoming and willing to answer questions. Great group of guys, good rolls. No GI, no factor.. willing to be flexible. Thanks for the time guys! Happy Birthday, Joe!

Great people and extremely positive environment. Everyone, coaches and students, wants to help and has been very supportive. Highly recommend.

Hella woman friendly for being so male dominated!Took a Wednesday class on impulse about 3 weeks ago. Walked in super intimidated by all the men but Andrew (instructor) made it abundantly clear that everyone on the mat would always respect my limits, be friendly af, and were there to help me learn. By the end of the class and I lost count of the number of times I was welcomed and told that they were excited to see me there, and hoped Id come back.Signed up immediately after my week long trial ended.Great community, clean mats, everyone is happy to act as a teacher no matter how silly your question is or how many times you ask how to tie a belt.

This gym best gym. I think its the most welcoming gym in the state, encourages collaboration and openness and has a non-threatening culture that tolerates all learners but does not tolerate jerks. High-level instruction from a set of fantastic black and brown belt instructors, nice clean mats, good sound, some of the best-dressed blue belts in town. Everyone smells nice. 10/10 would get choked again.

Great place. I’ve known Andrew for years and is one of the best humans that walks this earth.

Awesome school. Super clean and just simply amazing.

Fun, friendly, creative jiutjitsu school. I started training with these guys a year ago after having trained to purple belt at another gym. Its been a very welcoming and productive environment.

This is the perfect school if youre looking for top-level jiu-jitsu instruction combined with an ultra-friendly team atmosphere. Each coach brings their own style and approach to the classes they teach. The schools location is easy to get to, with plenty of parking, and they have multiple class options during the week. Youd be hard-pressed to find nicer instructors or teammates. I love my home away from home at Akagi!

Fabio, Topher, Joe, and Andrew are some of the best in the business. I cant say enough amazing things about this place and these martial arts instructors. World class training and people. 👍🏽

Extremely knowledgeable and passionate instructors. A welcoming environment which allows for individual and team growth. Im here to stay : )

Awesome people. They let me train with them while I was traveling through town for a few days. Super knowledgable and friendly instructors. Literally everyone in the class introduced themselves to me. Anyone looking to get into BJJ or more advanced grapplers will find good things here.

Great clean school! 2nd to none.

I love this gym. Solid group of coaches and easy to get on the mat and learning as a new guy.

Great place to train! The instructors are very knowledgeable, friendly, and welcoming. The gym and rest rooms are very neat and clean. As a BJJ Black belt, I highly recommend this gym no matter your skill level. You leave the gym feeling accomplished and a part of a family. This will be the gym I train at when I am in the Bloomington, MN area. See you on the mats. Osssss

Im really impressed with this gym. The classes are well run, the coaching is high quality, and the facilities are clean. Very happy to have a solid jiu-jitsu gym here in Bloomington.

Akagi has knowledgeable instructors who create a good environment for experienced Jiu-Jitsu members. I do not recommend them for people beginning with Jiu-Jitsu. I mentioned to the owners how the teaching style is difficult for someone starting in their method. I was surprised and disappointed with the level of apathy regarding my feedback. Unless something changes, I do not recommend them for anyone with less than 6 months of Jiu-Jitsu experience.

I started training with these instructors 2 years ago. Since then, my life has transformed. The reason why, is because of the lack of judgement and the openness to collaboration. They treat the gym as if its everyones gym. A good environment for those looking to better themselves in life, not only on the mat. I highly recommend this gym for jiu jitsu. The people that train here are good friends now. We all look to help and improve.

Akagi is a great environment to practice and learn jiu jitsu. They have a great community of mixed abilities and they are very welcoming to noobs like me.

Awesome instructors, first rate facilities, and a warm and welcoming atmosphere!!